Tottenham made it a bit more difficult than it had to be (lads, it’s Tottenham) but took all three points in the end, as they roared back form a goal down to beat West Ham 4-1 in north London on Saturday.
WATCH TOTTENHAM v WEST HAM FULL MATCH REPLAY
Two weeks after coughing up a 2-0 lead (and a sensational first-half performance) away to Brighton, it was Spurs (13 points - 6th place) who found themselves trailing at home despite the face they had begun another game at breakneck speed. West Ham (8 points - 14th) created very little (0.65 xG on 8 shots) after Mohammed Kudus scored the opener against the run of play in the 18th minute, and even less after the Ghana international was sent off for three instances of violent conduct toward no less than three Tottenham players in the 87th.
Dejan Kulusevski pulled Spurs back to 1-1 with a strike off both posts in the 36th minute as his sensational season in central midfield continues under Ange Postecoglou. On a related note, James Maddison was subbed off at halftime after providing the assist for Kulusevski’s equalizer. No word yet on whether he picked up an injury of if Postecoglou simply chose to bring him off.
The second-half comeback was just as furious as the collapse against Brighton, with Yves Bissouma and Son Heung-min leading the way. Bissouma, making his first Premier League start since Sept. 1, got on the end of Destiny Udogie’s cut-back cross and scored through a sea of bodies in the 52nd minute. Three minutes later, it was 3-1 after Son broke down the left side of attack and put his shot off goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, then defender Jean-Clair Todibo, then Areola again, and into the goal.
Son got a goal of his own in the 60th, as he turned Todibo inside out and fired home inside the near post to make it 4-1 and complete the scoring before Kudus’ moment of madness, which saw him: kick Micky van de Ven on the back while on the ground; put hands to Van de Ven’s face; and put hands to Pape Matar Sarr’s face, all in a span of six seconds.
The margins in the Premier League could not be thinner
At this point, Postecoglou’s style of play is well defined and established. Every time Spurs take the field, they dominate possession, trap their opponents inside their own half and have loads of shots (and crosses and corner kicks) from minute 1 to 90. They either take a couple-few of their (multitude of) scoring chances, or they waste a bunch and regret doing so a couple hours later. The result is not always indicative of the performance (for better or for worse, it goes both ways), but the process and the plan remains consistent with a new standout star leading the way each game. Brennan Johnson’s run of six goals in six games (all competitions) came to an end, but Tottenham still scored four goals anyway. Postecoglou has made Spurs less reliant on one player doing it all (Son last season, with 17 goals and 10 assists, and Harry Kane for most of a decade before that), which means they can win (or lose) in a multitude of ways from week to week. It’s still early, which means lots of up and downs, but it’s impossible to look at Tottenham and say they’re not headed in the right direction.
Player ratings - Tottenham vs West Ham
Tottenham vs West Ham updates - by Andy Edwards
Tottenham vs West Ham final score: 4-1
Goalscorers: Mohammed Kudus (19'), Dejan Kulusevski (36'), Yves Bissouma (53'), Jean-Clair Todibo (55' - OG), Son Heung-min (60')
RED CARD! Mohammed Kudus sent off for… well, pick your offense
GOAL! Tottenham 4-1 West Ham: Son Heung-min beats his man and adds another
GOAL! Tottenham 3-1 West Ham: Son Heung-min shoots, Alphonse Areola scores
GOAL! Tottenham 2-1 West Ham: Yves Bissouma finishes after Destiny Udogie works his magic
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 West Ham: Dejan Kulusevski hits both posts and pulls Spurs level
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 West Ham: Mohammed Kudus opens the scoring against the run of play
Tottenham starting lineup
Vicario - Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie - Bissouma, Kulusevski, Maddison - Johnson, Son, Solanke
West Ham starting lineup
Areola - Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson - Soucek, Rodriguez, Paqueta - Bowen, Kudus, Antonio
How to watch Tottenham vs West Ham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday (October 19)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Tottenham focus, team news
Wilson Odobert remains out, while Richarlison could return and Heung-min Son should be back after missing the game against Brighton before the international break with a thigh injury and not going away with South Korea for their World Cup qualifiers. Left back. Spurs looked so good in the first half against Brighton that it was absolutely shocking to see them collapse in the second half. Kulusevski, Johnson, Maddison and Solanke can rip teams apart and Tottenham’s next aim is to get that third goal when they’re on top to truly kill off games.
OUT: Wilson Odobert (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Lucas Bergvall (muscular), Richarlison (undisclosed), Heung-min Son (thigh)
West Ham focus, team news
West Ham only have one injury concern and that is Niclas Fullkrug. The German forward has been struggling with a calf injury but is close to a return but this game looks set to arrive too soon for him. The quartet of Bowen, Kudus, Antonio and Paqueta are likely to start again after they clicked against Ipswich. Finding the right balance in defense and midfield will be key and Todibo and Kilman looked solid at center back last time out.
OUT: Niclas Fullkrug (calf)
Tottenham vs West Ham prediction
This seems like it will be an open, entertaining clash as so far this season both sides have looked suspect defensively. Expect Spurs’ extra fluidity to make the difference. Tottenham 3-1 West Ham.
